Lent 2009

[tinytim]

Day 13 Monday March 9-

SEEKING GOD....to draw the lost with His persistent love

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!...How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you.
-Isaiah 30: 18-19

Pray:

*for Christians to express the welcome and honor of the Father's forgiving love to those still on the way back home to God.

*for God to strengthen the hearts of parents waiting for wayward children to come home.

*for massive movements of people coming home to God.

......DEPRESSED PEOPLE


But for God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us...-2 Corinthians 7:6

PRAYERWALK: Pray for people you see today who may be downcast, even though they appear to be cheerful and strong.

 

[Matt Black]

My question with observing Lent is why does one have to wait for a certain time of year to give something up? Maybe I'm missing the point. Perhaps someone could explain that to me.

Because some of us are weak in our walk with the Lord and can't quite manage these things all year round.

 

[blackbird]

Because some of us are weak in our walk with the Lord and can't quite manage these things all year round.

Seems to me---if you are weak in your walk on August 1(or any other date you select)-----you will experience the same weakness on whenever the date of Lent is

I mean----if you are weak any other day of the month---what makes you believe you're gonna be strong when Lent comes around???

 

[Matt Black]

Except that Lent makes you stronger. Let me explain. It has the advantage of being for a fixed time period and is therefore eminently more achievable than if a goal is set for an indeterminate period; this fixed time period, not coincidentally IMO, exactly corresponds to the period necessary to break bad habits and establish good ones so, ironically, despite the idea that it is for 40 days, many find that the habits they establish in Lent continue fairly automatically beyond it.

An example: let's say on August 1st ( to use your date) 2008, I don't read a chapter from the Bible every day but only a few verses, and not necessarily every day. Suppose I then set myself the goal in Lent 2009 to read a chapter a day for 40 days. That's a limited, defined, objective, and therefore much more achievable for me than me simply saying to myself back in August 08 that I really ought to read the Bible more. So I do the chapter a day thing for Lent 2009, which establishes the practice as a Good Habit, so that when 1st August 2009 comes around, I'll like as not still be doing it.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

A person doesn't..
But the same logic can be used to ask the following questions...

Why does a person have to wait to Dec. to focus on Christ's birth?
Why does a person wait till late November to be thankful?
(I know.. that's when deer season opens... hehe)
Why does a person have to wait until mid Feb. before giving roses to his wife?

The point of lent is not about giving up something.. but focusing on becoming closer to God. This of course should be done yr round...
But if you are like me, I need reminded every now an then to do something.
And hopefully, those that are not used to being close to God everyday may get a glimpse of what they are missing.... and incorporate it yr round.


So, in our church we are not focusing on giving up something.. but on prayer between now and Easter... hence the use of the prayer devotional that we are using..

I guess you can say it is the Baptist answer to Lent...

Good answer. Same thing can be said for Advent & Christmas.

Thanks for sharing your devo's.

 

[tinytim]

SEEKING GOD..to bring victory over evil powers-Day 17

Day 17 Wednesday March 13

"Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do no rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
" -Luke 10: 17-20

Pray

*for Christ to free demonized people who are in our city.

*for God to be glorified through the defeat of the demonic powers at work in our city.


.....HEALTHCARE WORKERS



Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; He will bless him in the land...-Psalm 41: 1-2



PRAYERWALK: Pray on or near the grounds of a hospital or clinic.

 

[tinytim]

Day 18 SEEKING GOD..to be praised by those who were lost

Jesus...said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.
" -Mark 5:19
Pray:

*for the breaking stories of God's work to be told and retold.

*for God to be honored for transforming lives.

*for new believers to become extravagant worshipers.

....for the POOR
PRAYERWALK: Walk places of poverty and neglect. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you His eyes and His heart in order to pray from hope, not pity.
What grieves or gladdens God as he walks amidst the poor?



I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
-Psalm 140:12

 

[tinytim]

Day 19 SEEKING GOD..for devastated cities to be restored

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me...the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devasted; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devasted for generations.
-Isaiah 61:1,4

Pray: *for Christians to live in the joy of pursuing God's kingdo life in their own neighborhood, workplace and beyond.

*for belivers to demonstrate the life and power of God's kingdom like Jesus did.

*for every part of our community to be saturated with the message of God's kingly rule.

.....for CHILDREN


Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these..-Mark 10:14 (NASB)

PRAYERWALK: Pray for kids in your neighborhood or in nearby schools and playgrounds. Pray for the entire family that surrounds each of the children as you pass by their homes.

 

[tinytim]

Day 20


All the people...began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a "sinner." But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house..." -Luke 19: 7-9
Pray:
*for God to turn the hearts of Christians from the intoxication effects of materialism.

*that wealth in our city would be released for good works.

.....for UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Pray for evangelization of entire campuses;

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.
-2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)



PRAYERWALK: Pray at a place of higher education.

 

[tinytim]

Day 21
SEEKING GOD...for the poor to be helped

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
-Matthew 9:36


Pray:
*for God to give us His eyes to see poor people of our cities with compassion.

*for God to deal severely with His people so that they would have their hearts released from runaway materialism.

....for the NEWS MEDIA


These are the things which you should do:speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgement for peace in your gates.
-Zechariah 8:16 (NASB)

PRAYERWALK: Visit a media center, a broadcast station or publisher of print media. Pray for those associated with the enterprise.

 

[tinytim]

Day 22
SEEKING GOD..to intervene for what is true and right

So justice is driven back...truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice...He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so His own arm worked salvation for Him, and His own righteousness sustained Him.
-Isaiah 59: 14-16
Pray:
*for God to save lost neighbors, family members and friends.

*for God to save His people from lies, delusion and selfishness.

*for Jesus to restore that which has been lost in our cities.
....NATIVE PEOPLES

For God's fullest blessing upon Native Americans;

I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
-Isaiah 51:4(NASB)

PRAYERWALK: As you prayerwalk, consider and bless the native peoples who first dwelt in the area that has become your city.